Filter mounting structure of vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a filter mounting structure of a vacuum cleaner. The filter mounting structure comprises a main body of the vacuum cleaner having a suction port and a discharge port, a suction fan at an air passage extending from the suction port to the discharge port, a dust collection container detachably mounted to the air passage, a filter installed inside the discharge port, a mounting part recessed into a portion of the main body such that the dust collection container is detachably mounted therein, and an insertion hole formed at a portion of the mounting part corresponding to an interior of the discharge port such that the filter is slidably and detachably installed thereto. The filter mounting structure allows the filter to be inserted into or separated from the discharge port without dissembling the main body of the vacuum cleaner, thereby allowing easy cleaning and replacement of the filter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and, more particularly, to a filter mounting structure of a vacuum cleaner constructed to allow a filter to be inserted into or separated from a discharge port without dissembling a main body of the vacuum cleaner or without using a door, thereby enabling easy cleaning and replacement of the filter.

2. Description of the Related Art

A vacuum cleaner is a household appliance which sucks dust and other foreign substances scattered on floors, walls, small gaps and the like in a room via a strong suction force from a negative pressure generated by driving a fan motor and operating a vacuum pump, and then collects the dust and the other foreign substances using a dust collecting filter positioned therein.

According to shapes and using postures, the vacuum cleaners can be classified into a canister type vacuum cleaner, which provides convenience in corner cleaning and movement while allowing easy replacement of a brush and a nozzle, and an upright type vacuum cleaner, which provides convenience in maintenance and allows easy cleaning of a large space.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional upright type vacuum cleaner.

The conventional upright type vacuum cleaner comprises a suction unit 100 having wheels 105 attached to a lower surface thereof and serving to suck dust on a floor, a main body 200 having components such as motor and the like contained therein, and an upright type handle 300.

For the upright type vacuum cleaner constructed as above, the suction unit 100 is formed at the lower surface with a suction port (not shown) to which a brush is attached and through which dust removed by the brush is sucked into the suction unit. Then, the sucked dust flows along with air, and is collected via a filter, while the air is discharged through a discharge port 210 formed at one side of the main body. At this point, another filter is positioned inside the discharge port 210, and takes the dust one more time from the air before the air is discharged into the room.

However, the conventional upright type vacuum cleaner has a problem in that, since the relatively heavy main body 200 is maintained in an upright state by means of the suction unit 100, it is difficult for a user to lay down or lift up the vacuum cleaner, so that the filter cannot be easily installed to or separated from the cleaner, thereby making it difficult to clean or replace the filter.

For a conventional canister type vacuum cleaner, since it has a lighter main body, it can be easily laid down or lifted up. However, since it is necessary to dissemble the main body or to open a separate door when separating the filter from the cleaner, there is a difficulty in cleaning and replacement of the filter. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved vacuum cleaner which solves the problems of the conventional vacuum cleaner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the conventional vacuum cleaner, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a filter mounting structure of a vacuum cleaner constructed to allow a filter to be inserted into or separated from a discharge port on an outer wall of a main body of the vacuum cleaner without using a separate door or locking means, thereby allowing easy cleaning and replacement of the filter.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a filter mounting structure of a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a main body of the vacuum cleaner having a suction port and a discharge port formed thereon; a suction fan positioned at an air passage extending from the suction port to the discharge port; a dust collection container detachably mounted to the air passage; a filter installed inside the discharge port; a mounting part recessed into a portion of the main body such that the dust collection container is detachably mounted therein; and an insertion hole formed at a portion of the mounting part corresponding to an interior of the discharge port such that the filter is slidably and detachably installed to the insertion hole.

Preferably, the filter mounting structure further comprises a housing fastened to the main body of the vacuum cleaner to support the suction fan, wherein the suction fan is installed inside the insertion hole, and the housing is formed with a discharge hole, and a receipt part to receive the filter, the receipt part being located near the discharge hole. Preferably, the receipt part is opened at an upper side facing the insertion hole and at a front side facing the discharge port, and comprises a plurality of latching protrusions formed on a front edge.

Preferably, the insertion hole has a withdrawal portion recessed at one side of the insertion hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view illustrating the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a dust collection container and a filter disassembled from the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a filter mounting structure of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the filter mounting structure of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings as follows.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view illustrating the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

The vacuum cleaner according to the present invention comprises: a main body 10 having a predetermined space defined therein, and having a suction port 12 and a discharge port 14; a suction unit 15 detachably attached to a lower side of the main body 10 to stand the main body 10 upright, and having a dust collecting port (not shown) and a discharge opening 18; a suction hose 70 positioned between the suction port 12 and the discharge opening 18; an extension pipe 30 detachably attached to the main body 10 and having a hollow space to define an air passage along which dust is induced; a handle 20 detachably mounted to an upper end of the extension pipe 30 to further define the air passage along which the dust is induced; a suction fan 62 positioned at the air passage extending from the suction port 12 to the discharge port 14; a dust collection container 50 detachably mounted at the air passage; and a filter 60 positioned inside the discharge port 14.

The construction described above constitutes an upright type vacuum cleaner. This vacuum cleaner can be converted into a canister type vacuum cleaner in such a way that, after separating the extension pipe 30 and the handle 20 from the main body 10, the suction hose 70 is disconnected from the discharge opening 18, and is connected with the handle 20, followed by separating the main body 10 from the suction unit 15. In this regard, it should be noted that a filter mounting structure of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention can be applied to any kind of vacuum cleaner which comprises the dust collection container and the filter, such as a general canister type vacuum cleaner and a general upright type vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the dust collection container and the filter disassembled from the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the filter mounting structure of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the filter mounting structure of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

The filter mounting structure of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention comprises a mounting part 11 recessed into a portion of the main body 10 such that the dust collection container 50 is detachably mounted into the mounting part 11; and an insertion hole 13 formed at a portion of the mounting part 11 corresponding to an interior of the discharge port 14 such that the filter 60 is slidably and detachably installed into the insertion hole 13.

With this structure, when the dust collection container 50 is detached from the mounting part 11, the insertion hole 13 is opened, and allows the filter 60 to be inserted therein or taken out therefrom, so that the filter 60 can be easily cleaned along with the dust collection container 50, thereby permitting easy cleaning of an interior of the cleaner.

The filter mounting structure further comprises a housing 64 fastened to the main body 10 inside the insertion hole 13 to support the suction fan 62 such that, when the filter 60 is inserted into the discharge port 14 through the insertion hole 13, the filter 60 faces the housing 64. The housing 64 is formed with a discharge hole 64 a through which air induced by the suction fan 64 is discharged, and a receipt part 64 b formed near the discharge hole 64 a to receive the filter therein.

The receipt part 64 b is opened at an upper side facing the insertion hole 13, and at a front side facing the discharge port 14. Thus, when the filter 60 is inserted through the insertion hole 13 after assembling the suction fan 62 and the housing 64 to the main body 10 of the vacuum cleaner, the filter 60 is inserted into the receipt part 64 b formed above the discharge hole 64 a of the housing 64, and is thus placed between the discharge hole 64 a of the housing 64 and the discharge port 14 such that foreign substances are filtered by the filter 60 from air discharged via the suction fan 62.

The receipt part 64 b further comprises a plurality of latching protrusions 64 c formed around a front edge to prevent the filter 60 from moving by air blown from the discharge hole 64 a and from being separated from the receipt part 64 b, thereby suppressing noise and vibration during driving of the vacuum cleaner.

The length of the filter 60 is equal to a distance from the bottom of the mounting part 11 to the bottom of the receipt part 64 b, and thus, when the filter 60 is inserted into the receipt part 64 b through the insertion hole 13, the bottom of the mounting part 11 becomes coplanar with an upper surface of the filter 60, thereby preventing interference between the filter and the dust collection container upon insertion or separation of the dust collection container 50. In addition, the insertion hole 13 is formed with a withdrawal portion 13 a which is recessed into a portion of one side of the insertion hole 13 such that, when a user inserts his or her finger into the withdrawal portion 13 a, he or she can easily grip the filter 60.

Operation of the filter mounting structure of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention will be described as follows.

When mounting the filter 60, the dust collection container 50 is first detached from the mounting part 11, and the filter 60 is slid into the insertion hole 13 until the filter 60 is seated in the receipt part 64 b of the housing 64. Then, the dust collection container 50 is fitted into the mounting part 11 so that the bottom surface of the dust collection container 50 restricts the upper surface of the filter 60, thereby preventing movement of the filter 60.

Thereafter, when power is applied to the vacuum cleaner and drives the suction fan 62, dust and other foreign substances are induced through the suction port 12, and flow into the dust collection container 50 along the air passage defined within the main body 10 of the cleaner. Then, the dust is filtered by the dust collection container 50, and the air discharged from the dust collection container 50 is discharged to the outside through the discharge port 14 after passing through the filter 60 via the suction hole 62 and the discharge hole 64 a such that the dust unfiltered by the dust collection container 50 is secondarily filtered by the filter 60.

As the cleaning operation described above is repeated for a long period of time, the dust collection container 50 is filled with the dust and foreign substances. Thus, after detaching the dust collection container 50 from the main body 10 of the vacuum cleaner, the user empties the dust collection container 50, and then takes out the filter 60 with his or her finger inserted into the withdrawal portion 13 a, whereby cleaning and replacement of the filter 60 can be easily performed.

With the construction and operation as above, the filter mounting structure of the vacuum cleaner enables easy installation and separation of the filter 60.

According to the present invention, the filter mounting structure of the vacuum cleaner is formed with the insertion hole through which the filter is slidably inserted into the mounting part where the dust collection container is detachably mounted, so that the filter can be easily mounted to or separated from the vacuum cleaner without a separate door or a securing means, thereby reducing a time required for cleaning and replacement of the filter.

In addition, according to the present invention, the filter mounting structure comprises the housing positioned inside the insertion hole to support the suction fan, and the receipt part formed near the discharge hole to receive the filter, so that the filter is prevented from moving or being separated by air supplied from the suction fan, thereby reducing vibration and noise during operation of the vacuum cleaner.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

1. A filter mounting structure of a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a main body having a suction port and a discharge port formed thereon; a suction fan positioned at an air passage extending from the suction port to the discharge port; a dust collection container detachably mounted to the air passage; a filter installed inside the discharge port; a mounting part recessed into a portion of the main body such that the dust collection container is detachably mounted therein; and an insertion hole formed at a portion of the mounting part corresponding to an interior of the discharge port such that the filter is slidably and detachably installed to the insertion hole.
 2. The filter mounting structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a housing fastened to the main body of the vacuum cleaner to support the suction fan, wherein the suction fan is installed inside the insertion hole, and the housing is formed with a discharge hole, and a receipt part to receive the filter, the receipt part being located near the discharge hole.
 3. The filter mounting structure according to claim 2, wherein the receipt part is opened at an upper side facing the insertion hole and at a front side facing the discharge port, and comprises a plurality of latching protrusions formed on a front edge.
 4. The filter mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the insertion hole has a withdrawal portion recessed at a portion of one side thereof. 